Traceability in a modeling environment

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments employ a mapping among entities that are related to each other. The entities may include a graphical model, generated code, a generated report, a requirements document and/or an intermediate representation. The mapping may facilitate graphical identifications between parts of one entity that maps to part of another entity. The graphical identification may occur based on a selection of a part in one of the entities.

We claim: 
     
       1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
 accessing generated code corresponding to at least a portion of a graphical model,
 the accessing being performed by a processor; 
 
 graphically identifying a first graphical affordance in the graphical model,
 the first graphical affordance corresponding to a first segment of the generated code, and 
 the graphically identifying being performed by the processor; 
 
 graphically identifying, based on graphically identifying the first graphical affordance in the graphical model, one or more portions of the graphical model,
 when graphically identifying the one or more portions of the graphical model, the method includes:
 receiving information associated with browsing an intermediate representation of the graphical model or the generated code; and 
 graphically identifying the one or more portions of the graphical model based on the received information associated with browsing the at least one of the intermediate representation of the graphical model or the generated code, 
 
 the graphically identifying the one or more portions of the graphical model being performed by the processor; 
 
 searching the graphical model for a recurring graphical affordance,
 the searching being performed by the processor; 
 
 graphically identifying segments in the generated code that correspond to the recurring graphical affordance,
 the graphically identifying the segments being performed by the processor; 
 
 replacing the recurring graphical affordance in the graphical model with another graphical affordance,
 the replacing being performed by the processor; and 
 
 updating sections of the generated code based on the replacing,
 the updating being performed by the processor. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , where the method further comprises:
 generating tracing information for associating the first graphical affordance with the first segment of the generated code. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , where the method further comprises:
 generating an independent representation that comprises the tracing information. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , where the method further comprises:
 mapping a document to the generated code using tracing information; and 
 graphically identifying a requirement in the document that corresponds to the first segment. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , where the method further comprises:
 updating an inferred property in the first graphical affordance; and 
 implementing the inferred property as a specified property. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , where the first segment corresponds to a plurality of graphical affordances, and the method further comprises:
 identifying members of the plurality of graphical affordances in the graphical model using unique graphical identifiers. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , where the method further comprises:
 searching the generated code for the first segment; 
 graphically identifying the first graphical affordance in the graphical model corresponding to the first segment; 
 replacing the first segment with another segment; and 
 updating the graphical model to reflect the replacing. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , where the method further comprises:
 associating undisplayed aspects of the graphical model with the first segment; and 
 displaying the undisplayed aspects when the first segment is specified. 
 
     
     
       9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, the instructions comprising:
 one or more instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
 interact with code generated based on a graphical model,
 the generated code comprising at least a first segment; 
 
 graphically identify a first graphical affordance in the graphical model that corresponds to the first segment; and 
 graphically identify, based on graphically identifying the first graphical affordance in the graphical model, one or more portions of the graphical model,
 the one or more instructions to graphically identify the one or more portions of the graphical model including:
 one or more instructions to receive information associated with browsing an intermediate representation of the graphical model or the generated code; and 
 one or more instructions to graphically identify the one or more portions of the graphical model based on the received information associated with browsing the at least one of the intermediate representation of the graphical model or the generated code; 
 
 
 search the graphical model for a recurring graphical affordance; 
 graphically identify segments in the generated code that correspond to the recurring graphical affordance; 
 replace the recurring graphical affordance in the graphical model with another graphical affordance; and 
 update sections of the generated code based on the replacing. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The medium of  claim 9 , where the instructions further include:
 one or more instructions to generate tracing information for associating the first graphical affordance with the first segment. 
 
     
     
       11. A computer-implemented method comprising:
 accessing generated code corresponding to at least a portion of a graphical model,
 the accessing being performed by a processor; 
 
 graphically identifying a first segment in the generated code,
 the first segment corresponding to a first graphical affordance in the graphical model, and 
 the graphically identifying being performed by the processor; and 
 
 graphically identifying, based on graphically identifying the first segment in the generated code, one or more portions of the graphical model,
 when graphically identifying the one or more portions of the graphical model, the method includes:
 receiving information associated with browsing an intermediate representation of the graphical model or the generated code; and 
 graphically identifying the one or more portions of the graphical model based on the received information associated with browsing the at least one of the intermediate representation of the graphical model or the generated code, 
 
 the graphically identifying the one or more portions of the graphical model being performed by the processor; 
 
 searching the graphical model for a recurring graphical affordance,
 the searching being performed by the processor; 
 
 graphically identifying segments in the generated code that correspond to the recurring graphical affordance,
 the graphically identifying the segments being performed by the processor; 
 
 replacing the recurring graphical affordance in the graphical model with another graphical affordance,
 the replacing being performed by the processor; and 
 
 updating sections of the generated code based on the replacing,
 the updating being performed by the processor. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , where
 the first graphical affordance corresponds to a plurality of segments in the generated code, and 
 the method further comprises:
 identifying members of the plurality of segments using a unique graphical identifier. 
 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , where the members of the plurality of segments are stored in two or more files. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11 , where the method further comprises:
 generating tracing information that associates the first graphical affordance with the first segment in the generated code. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11 , where the method further comprises:
 mapping a document to the generated code; and 
 graphically identifying a requirement in the document that corresponds to the first graphical affordance. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 11 , where the method further comprises:
 specifying a scope related to aspects of the first graphical affordance for identifying the segment as at least one segment that is within the scope. 
 
     
     
       17. A device comprising:
 a memory to store instructions; and 
 a processor to execute the instructions to:
 access generated code corresponding to at least part of a graphical model; and 
 graphically identify a first segment in the generated code corresponding to a first graphical affordance; and 
 graphically identify, based on graphically identifying the first segment in the generated code, one or more portions of the graphical model,
 the processor, when graphically identifying the one or more portions of the graphical model, being to:
 receive information associated with browsing an intermediate representation of the graphical model or the generated code; and 
 graphically identify the one or more portions of the graphical model based on the received information associated with browsing the at least one of the intermediate representation of the graphical model or the generated code; 
 
 
 search the graphical model for a recurring graphical affordance; 
 identify segments in the generated code that correspond to the recurring graphical affordance; 
 replace the recurring graphical affordance in the graphical model with another graphical affordance; and 
 update sections of the generated code based on the replacing. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 17 , where
 the first graphical affordance corresponds to a plurality of segments in the generated code, and the processor is further to:
 identify each of the plurality of segments in the generated code with a unique graphical identifier. 
 
 
     
     
       19. The device of  claim 17 , where the processor is further to:
 generate tracing information that associates the first graphical affordance with the first segment in the generated code. 
 
     
     
       20. The device of  claim 19 , where of the processor is further to:
 map a document to the generated code using the tracing information; and 
 graphically identify a requirement in the document that corresponds to the first graphical affordance.